German composition

Section 27. WITHOUT⁠[1] PAINS NO GAINS.

Reading edition

Section 27. WITHOUT⁠[1] PAINS NO GAINS.

It was one of the characteristic qualities of Charles James Fox⁠[2], that⁠[3] he was thoroughly pains-taking in all that he did. When⁠[4] appointed Secretary of State, being⁠[5] piqued at some observation as to his bad writing, he actually took⁠[6] a writing-master, and wrote copies like a schoolboy until he had sufficiently improved himself. Though⁠[7] a corpulent man, he⁠[8] was wonderfully active at picking up tennis-balls, and⁠[9] when asked how he contrived to do so, he playfully replied: “Because⁠[10] I am a very pains-taking man.” The same accuracy which he bestowed upon trifling matters⁠[11], was displayed by him in things of greater importance; and⁠[12] he acquired his reputation by “neglecting nothing.”—S. Smiles.

Der Freund meines Vaters ist zum Abgeordneten erwählt worden. My father’s friend has been elected a member of Parliament.

Da es regnet, so können (App. § 15) wir nicht ausgehen. As it is raining, we cannot go out.

‘He — balls’, so war er im Auffangen der Bälle beim Tennisspiele doch merkwürdig gewandt.

Notes in this chapter

Note 1 · Ohne Mühe kein Gewinn.Note 2 · Ich möchte vorschlagen zu übersetzen: ‘of the famous Ch. J. Fox’, weil dadurch das Verhältnis des Genitivs ganz klar ausgedrückt wird. Charl Note 3 · daß er sich in allem, was er that, die größte Mühe gab.Note 4 · When he was appointed (see N. 7). The verbs machen (to make), ernennen (to appoint), and erwählen (to choose, to elect), and other verbs den Note 5 · being — writing. This clause must be rendered in an altogether different form; let us say ‘and felt hurt by an observation as to (über) his Note 6 · ‘to take’, here engagie´ren; ‘actually’, here faktisch (see App. § 15); to write copies, sich im Schönschreiben üben; improved himself = imp Note 7 · Though he was. Grammatical distinctness, as a rule, requires that the subject and copula, which after certain conjunctions are so frequently Note 8 · When a subordinate clause, beginning with one of the conjunctions da, obgleich, weil, and wenn, precedes a principal clause, which is often Note 9 · ‘and — so’, say ‘and when (S. 18, N. 6) one asked him how he did (machen) it’. The verb machen should be used in the Pres. Subj., since the Note 10 · Weil ich mir stets die größte Mühe gebe.Note 11 · trifling matters, Kleinigkeiten; ‘was — importance’, say ‘he showed also in more important matters’ (Angelegenheiten).Note 12 · and — nothing, und er erwarb sich seinen Ruf dadurch, daß er nichts für zu gering erachtete.